Passport rules relaxed for folks traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean

Press Release

Passport rules relaxed for folks traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean

U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Concord Township) says he is sickened that the White House, Department of Homeland Security and State Department waited so long to suspend new requirements that American citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean must have a passport in order to board their planes and return to the United States.

"It has been obvious for weeks that the State Department was ill prepared to handle the crush of new passport applications, and far too many people have had their travel ruined," said LaTourette, whose office has tried to assist four years worth of passport requests in the last few weeks. "It is unconscionable that folks applied for passports three and four months ago and have had to miss vacations, weddings, business meetings, school trips and funerals, especially when the State Department had more than two years to plan for the new rules and ready themselves for a surge of new applications."

LaTourette said the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation in December 2004 that required the federal government to come up with a plan to require passports for all those traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The Department of Homeland Security announced November 22, 2006, that the new requirement would take effect on January 23, 2007.

LaTourette said the State Department wildly underestimated the number of applications that would come in, and then clung to the belief that with additional manpower they could handle the load. The State Department issued 12.1 million passports last year, and nearly 5.5 million applications were made in the first three months of this year alone.

"Common sense tells you that you don't wait to issue an SOS until the boat has sunk, yet it appears the State Department just crossed its fingers and hoped the backlog of applications and the exploding demand would just magically disappear," LaTourette said.

LaTourette said his district office normally has one staffer to handle all passport inquiries, but has had his entire staff pitch in to help frantic constituents who are on the verge of missing their trips because their passports haven't arrived. On Wednesday, LaTourette met in his Washington office with a top State Department official and handed him records for 54 constituents who had to leave the country by Monday. He said that is just a fraction of the passport applications his office is trying to track for constituents.

"I heard the official story about how the State Department had set up a triage system to address the problem and had offices staffed 24-7, but it was apparent to me that the wheels had fallen off and they were in denial. People couldn't even get through by phone or e-mail to see where they were in the process," LaTourette said. "We've moved heaven and earth to help people, and we've had many, many last minute saves. Most folks have had their passports arrive in the nick of time, but others haven't been so lucky. We've also heard from many folks who bought trip insurance only to find out it doesn't apply if you fail to get a passport in time. It's just sickening."

LaTourette said under the new rules, anyone who can demonstrate they have applied for a passport before June 8 can travel by air to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean without a passport until September 30, 2007, provided they show proper documentation. Travelers headed to Europe, Asia or other destinations that require a passport will not be able to travel without one. Also, if you have not applied for a passport yet, the new rules do not apply for your travel and you will need a passport for air travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean, even if your trip falls before September 30, 2007.

LaTourette said you must have a government issued ID and proof of passport application. Constituents can go to http://travel.state.gov/passport and click on the status check link. Constituents should enter their last name, date of birth, the locator number for the passport application, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. A U.S. Passport Application Status page will pop up that includes personal information, the status of the application, and a locator number. Constituents should print this page and take this to the airport, along with their photo ID.

"I hope the nail biting and ulcers are over, but just to be safe folks should get to the airport early," LaTourette said.

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